Car accident lawyer advises caution to avoid deer-vehicle collisions

Car accident lawyer advises caution to avoid deer-vehicle collisions

Posted By
Robert Kovacs

Winter weather can increase traffic hazards due to its effect on road conditions:
snow and ice create conditions were cars can slip and slide. The increasing
darkness in the evenings and mornings can also impact driving conditions.

However, there is another factor in the approach of winter, and that is
an increased likelihood of vehicles colliding with deer. According to the
Boston Globe, deer-vehicle accidents rise roughly threefold in the season between late
October and December. That means that Massachusetts drivers have a 1 in
452 chance of a crash involving a deer annually. While that incidence
is less than many states, a collision with a deer is certainly best avoided. The
Boston Globe quotes State Farm Insurance as saying that 10,333 accidents occurred in
the 2009-2010 period. (Exact statistics for Massachusetts are not compiled,
as drivers are not mandated to report any collisions with deer, unlike
other types of traffic accidents.)

Collisions with deer have become more frequent in recent decades as suburban
expansion has pushed into areas that were once farmland or forested.

That said, how does one avoid a collision with a deer? First, recognize
that deer are active in the October through December period because it
is mating season. Deer are more mobile during mating season, so increased
vigilance by drivers is advised.

Second, many of the tips for avoiding a deer accident are the same as those
for safe winter driving overall. Actively employ your headlights, and
make sure you use the brights when appropriate. Make sure that you can
safely stop in the area you can see with your headlights. Drive at a reasonable
rate of speed given the conditions and the weather—and recognize
that it may need to be under the speed limit if conditions warrant.